WRESTLING

Wrestling season preview | Schaumburg's Marchok locked in on success

November 18, 2011|By Phil English | Special to the Tribune

No one will accuse Josh Marchok of not putting forth effort.

Coming off of a junior season during which he won the Class 3A 215-pound state title with a 38-0 record — including 34 pins — the Schaumburg wrestler was prepared to do his usual summertime damage at the prestigious Asics/Vaughan Junior National Championships in Fargo, N.D.

An allergic reaction to an antibiotic shortly after the state meet landed Marchok in the hospital for a week, but he still ended up qualifying for the tournament.

A broken jaw weeks later kept him out of practice until just days before the meet. When he returned to action he earned double All-America honors, finishing fourth in Greco Roman and fifth in Freestyle. His only losses during the tournament were to college-aged wrestlers.

"I hate thinking someone's better than me or that I didn't give it my all," Marchok said. "I'll walk out of a test and think, 'If I studied a few more hours I really would have nailed it.' If you put the effort in, why not do everything to make yourself successful? I don't like to waste any effort."

Defending 3A state champ Glenbard North begins the season as the Tribune's No. 1 team, followed by Sandburg, Minooka, Marist and Oak Park.

"I think Illinois has been extremely strong, talent-wise, the last 10 years or so, but this year is a standout," Marchok's coach, Michael LeVanti, said. "And with Josh, I've never had a U.S. No. 1 before. I'm not sure the conference has either. But on top of the wrestling he's just a great, smart kid."

Marchok has a 4.3 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale and scored a 34 on his ACT. Ranked first in the nation at 220 pounds by InterMatWrestle.com, Marchok will wrestle for Stanford beginning next season.

He won't be sneaking up on anyone this season. His career record of 79-3 the last two years attests to that.

"My freshman and sophomore years, I kind of liked being under the radar," Marchok said. "This year is going to be like last year. The target's there on my back. It's pretty much tattooed on there at this point."